I found this quote interesting from the Call article:
'If we continue to spend at this rate, this board will face voter referendum. There will be a time when the school budget goes to voters,'' Lesky said. ''Some people say that's a good thing. I'm not so sure it is. We will not go to referendum for another two to four years if we plan accordingly.''And this one from the Express-Times:
During last year's budget and new MS discussions it was made clear that our spending to revenue gap would only widen each ensuing year - the question was by how much. Our debt service is as big as it can get (we'll have borrowed almost up to our maximum with the new MS) and each year we add spending to provide education. We also haven't been hit with the extra costs associated with opening the new MS building and cost over-runs in building it.Lesky wants to cull about $725,000 out of the budget but warned that slices in spending might mean larger class sizes or reduced programming.
Board member Tom Maher said not to confuse Lesky's plan to cut spending with actual cost-cutting.
"(Lesky) is not saying, 'decrease spending,'" Maher said. "He's saying, 'Decrease the increase in spending.'"
The District will eventually take some exceptions the state offers which really undermines Act I's index. Ironically, the index has now turned into a target. The NASD tries to keep under it as opposed to trying not to raise taxes. At the same time year in and year out the municipalities make hard decisions to hold the line on taxes and do a pretty good job.
I wonder if it is not time for a top to bottom review of all spending and all processes to make sure all the so called 'fixed' costs are really fixed and that all the staff positions are really needed. Cuts in spending ought to start furthest from the direct education of the child and work in, instead each year the NASD offers cuts which hurt student education, residents complain about the cuts, and the board decides not to cut them because the people want the program, and sorry nothing we could do but raise taxes.
While this is a political game for some, the tax consequence is very real for many others. Maybe the new board members will provide a fresh look and new ideas to help resolve our spending challenges.
What do you think of the preliminary budget? Spending? And our future as it relates to taxes?
1 comment:
This school distrist and its administrator continue to give the taxpayers the unpleasant surprises year after year. It is time for us to go back to basics something that has been proclaimed by district after district with no intent of doing so. Let's look at what we really need. Reading or English, Math, Science, History and a language. Music and art would be nice and you can add mandatory physical education with health class. Anything else can be tossed out the window. Personally I would toss all sports. Let the parents figure out a way to run that.
Schools exist to educate children not to prepare them for the work place. Educated children will be able to decide what they would like to do to maintian themselves and their future family. They can attend appropriate vocational schools, colleges or universities. They can also get a job and apprentice there learning through on the job training. I do agree with you that the chopping should start at the top with the elimination of administrative staff that reaches down into the positions of assistant principals. A lot of fluff can be eliminated, we don't buy laptops for each kid to use let the parents pay for them. Possibly some of the organizations within the district might be willing to purchase computers for those in need if approached. Given that we have had mandatory community service for many years meant to encourage volunteering, we should be overwhelmed with such people in these organizations. We also need to look at transportation and get the state to change the law so we do not have kids being hauled to school by parents and buses that continue to be anywhere from 30-50 percent empty on a daily basis.
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